Vacuum filling machine



30, 1956 v. e. WILLIAMS VACUUM FILLING MACHINE 3 sheetsf sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1954- m ma NNYWHWI G m. a. r hm wm V/ V w .wv E

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United States Patent VACUUM FILLING lvIACHIbIE Victor G. Williams, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to 'Delamere .& Williams Company, Limited, West Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Ontario Application February 10, 1195 4, Serial'No. 499,399 12 Claims. (Cl. 14!1-65I)' This invention relates to a packaging machine and more particularly to a vacuum filling machine.

*Qne object of the-invention is to -provide a novel and improved vacuum filling machine which is particularly adapted to :fi-ll flexible containers, suchas cartons, bags or thelike, with finely .comminuted solid materials, in a rapid, practical and efficient manner.

Another object of the invention istoprovide a vacuum filling machine having novel and improved means for supporting a -fiat, flexible .container in operative relation to vacuum filling mechanism in a simple and practical manner such as to avoidsany stress on the flexible mate rial during the vacuum filling operation, and wherein novel provision is made :for varying the measured charge deposited-inthe container.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the present invention consists in the filling machine and in the various structures, at

ran-gements and combinations -of ,parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at .the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention:

Fig. .1 is .a vertical sectional view of a vacuum filling machine embodying the presentinvention;

'Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of aubag holder orcharge forming pocket as seen from the line 2-.'2 of-Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of .thepocket shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4-is a cross-sectional view of the charge forming pocket in a different position ofoperation;

"Fig. 5 is a side elevation partlyin cross section of a modified form of char-geforming and bagholding pocket; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation :Fig. 5

in general the present inventioncontemplates a novel and improved vacuum filling machine which is particularly adapted to rapidly .and efliciently fill a plurality of successive relatively fiat flexible containers with:,a measured quantity of finely comminu-ted flowiable solid material. In accordance with the present invention novel provision-is madeforsupportinga relatively fragible flexible container, such as a flat bag openat the top, in operative relation to the vacuum filling mechanism in a manner such as :to avoid collapse .of the v.bag during evacuation and filling thereof. Novel PIOVl'SlOH .is also made for adjustably varying .the amount .of-the measured charge deposited in the bag. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the bag holding and charge measuring pocket comprises in general .an outer hollow member open at its lower end and about which a bag may be formed, or about which a formed'bag may be placed, and an inner tubular member terminating'in a head portion or nozzle slidingly mounted Within the outer hollow member. The head or nozzle portion is provided with a material inlet opening and a suction opening. In practice the head portion maybe maintained in a relatively fixed'but adof the pocket shown in justably variableipositionyand the outer hollow member may be moved a predetermined distance downwardly relative to the head portion to dispose the bottom of the outer member a predetermined distance from the bottom of the head .portion. iProvision is also made for clamping the bottom or lower portion: ofJthe-bag in airtight sealing relation to the openend of the outer member whereby to permit evacuation and filling .of the pocket or charge forming portiondefined by :the out-er member, the head or nozzle portion; and the ,portion of the bag clamped againstthe open end of the hollow member. The bag is preferably supported :alongits marginal side edges by grippers mounted on.a chain, and after the charge forming and measuring :operation the bottom clamping member may be removed and the outer hollow member elevated .to ya position substantially flush with the lower end of the filling head to .eject the measured charge into and b6TW66I1' l3ll:SldB Walls-ofthebag.

In practice the :bags may be preformed and placed over the hollow portion of the holder to be clamped thereto, or preferably the bags may be formed directly on the hollow portionof the holder in a bag forming and filling machine of the type illustrated and described in the United Statespatents to V. G. Williams, Nos. 2,351,382 and 2,556,382 wherein the machine is provided with an upper carrier for conveying the hollow material supply members and a lowercarrier provided with bag supporting grippers. In the operation of .such prior machines a web of bag-forming material is drawn from a roll thereof through the open grippers and folded longitudinally in theform of a V to receive the material supply members lowered therebetweenwand whichalso serve as bag formers. The grippers areclosed on the bag forming material about the forming members, and the web may then be sealed at transverse intervals between successive grippers whereupon the web may be severed transversely through the sealed portions to form individual flat bags open atthe topand carried by the grippers. :In the illustrated embodiment of the inventionthe forming members may comprise the hollow portions of the charge measuring pockets, and afterformation of the bags about the holder the bottom portion of the bag may be clamp-ed against the open end thereof to permit evacuation and filling of the charge measuring pocket, as described. Thereafter, the filling .unit .may beelevated out of the bag and the bag conveyed by the grippers .to top sealing mechanism to form a filled and closed bag.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a bag forming and filling machine wherein 10 represents a lowercarrier comprising an endless chain con veyer 12 arranged to run over a sprocket 1'4 and which is provided with a plurality of spaced grippers l6 arranged to support and convey the formed bags. The numeral '18 represents the bag holding nozzles or charge measuring pockets .to which the bags may be transferred or about which the bags may be formed. The bag holding nozzles 18 are operatively connected to the vacuum filling mechanism indicated generally at 20 and are mounted for vertical reciprocation relative to the bag supported by the grippers.

Projecting from the chain 12 are a plurality of arms 22 on which the grippers are pviotally mounted, each gripper unit 16 comprising U-s'haped fingers mounted on a pivot pin '24 which .extends through the .end of arm 22 and which are adapted to swing on the pivot pin so as to bring the opposed fingerstogetherand clamp the bag between them. Coil springs 26 pass around pivot pin 24 and engage cross pieces formed at the lower ends of the fingers tending to force them together. A pin 28 mounted on arm 22 extends axially 'of the pin 24 between 'thefingers and acts as-a stop'to hold them in 3. vertical position when closed. The grippers 16 are arranged to slide on a bar on track 30 which cooperates with lugs 32 extending downwardly from the cross pieces of the U-shaped fingers. The track 30 is widened at selected points to urge the lugs outwardly and effect opening of the grippers, and the track is narrowed at other points to permit the gripper fingers to close under the influence of the springs 26 to grip the bag along the marginal side edges thereof.

As herein shown, the sprocket 14 may be keyed to a hollow shaft 34 rotatably mounted on a central stationary shaft 36 and provided with a sleeve bushing 38. The shaft 36 is supported at its lower end in a hub member 40 forming a part of the machine frame, and the hollow shaft 34 may be rotated through a worm gear drive 42 from the main drive shaft 44 of the bag forming and filling machine. The hollow shaft 34 may be rotatably supported at its lower end in a hub member 46 forming :a part of the machine frame and is further supported in an upstanding hub 48 formed in a bracket 50 attached to the machine frame. The bracket 50 is also arranged to support guide rails 52 in which the carrier chain 12 is guided.

The bag holders or charge measuring pockets 18 are supported for vertical reciprocation in a slide bracket 54 attached to arms 56 of a spider 58 keyed to and rotatable with the hollow shaft 34. Each pocket 18 is connected by an arm 60 to a slide member 62 slidingly mounted in the bracket 54, and each slide member is provided with a roller 64 which cooperates with a stationary cam rail 66 to effect reciprocation of the bag holders or filling nozzles 18 relative to the bag carried by the grippers.

As herein illustrated, each charge measuring pocket or nozzle 18 includes an outer hollow member 68 which may be circular or elliptical in shape, and an inner tubular member or material supply tube 70 which ter- 7 minates in a head portion 72 which is slidingly fitted in airtight relation within the outer hollow member 68. The hollow member 68 may be adjustably supported in the arm 60 for reciprocation therewith as by a set screw 69, and as herein shown, the lower open end of the outer member 68 is preferably cut at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with relation to the vertical axis of the nozzle unit for cooperation with a valve member 74 formed at the end of one arm 76 of a bell crank pivotally mounted on a pin 78 carried by an extension of the arm 60. The valve member is preferably faced with rubber or other resilient material 71 and is arranged to be rocked to clamp the lower portion of the bag in airtight relation to the open end of the member 68 by a spring 80 connected between the arms 60, 76. The valve is arranged to be opened by a cam rail 84 cooperating with a roller 86 carried by the second arm 88 of the bell crank. As herein shown, the upper end of the hollow member 68 terminates in a threaded portion 90 "arranged to receive a packing nut 92 provided with packing material arranged to provide an airtight seal between the hollow member 68 and the material supply tube 78. It will be observed that the head portion 72 is also cut at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to conform to the lower end of the outer member 68 when brought into flush relationship, and the head portion is also provided with a sealing ring 93 to provide an airtight seal between the head portion 72 and the inside surface of the outer hollow member 68.

The material supply tube 70 extends upwardly beyond the outer hollow member 68 and is supported for vertical sliding movement in an arm 94 of a spider 96 keyed to and rotatable with the hollow shaft 34. The upper end of the tube 70 is connected by a flexible hose 114 to one of a plurality of outlets 116 formed in the lower end of a material supply hopper 118 containing a supply of the commodity being packaged. A relatively small suction tube 95 also terminating in the head portion 72 is disposed within the material supply tube 70 and runs "along one side thereof, the upper end of the suction tube being bent outwardly and extended through an opening in the side of the material supply tube 70. A flexible hose 98 connects the upper end of the suction tube to a port 100 formed in a suction head 102 mounted for rotation with the hollow shaft 34. Each port 100 communicates with an opening 104 which is arranged to communicate with an elongated arcuate port 106 formed in a stationary valve member 108 fast on the upper end of the central supporting shaft 36, the port 106 being in communication with a central passageway 110 formed in the shaft 36 which may be connected to a source of suction by a pipe 112. As illustrated in Fig. l, the suction head 102 is mounted on the upper end of an enlarged diameter portion of the hollow shaft 34, and the stationary valve member 108 is maintained in airtight relation with the underside of the suction head 102 by a coil spring 120.

As herein illustrated, a stop collar 121 is adjustably mounted on the supply tube 70 above the supporting arm 94 arranged to bear against the arm to limit the downward movement of the supply tube into the bag supported by the grippers when the tube is in its lowered position, and a second stop collar 122 is provided on the tube intermediate the arm 94 and the top of the outer member 68 which is arranged to be engaged by the packing nut 92 when the outer member is elevated to withdraw the filling unit from the bag held by the grippers. The upper collar 121 is further provided with a laterally extended arm 124 having a roller 126 for cooperation with a cam rail 128 to prevent upward movement of the tube 70 by friction during the initial upward movement of the hollow member 68 to eject the charge of material into the bag.

From the description thus the operation of the machine the far it will be seen that in bags carried by the grippers and formed on or otherwise placed on the hollow member 68 of the pockets in their lowered position may be clamped to the pocket by closing the valve member 74 to seal the lower portion of the bag in airtight relation 7 to the open end of the hollow member 68. When the filling unit 18 is in its lowered position, as shown at the left in Fig. l and also in Fig. 2, the upper collar 121 limits the downward movement of the material supply tube 70 and the cam rail 66 limits the downward movement of the outer member 68 relative thereto so that the space between the end of the head portion 72 and the end of the member 68 determines the volume of the charge formed in the filling unit. In practice the volume of the unit 18 may be varied by adjustment of the collar 121 on the tube 70.

In operation as successive ports 104 come into alignment with the stationary port 106 the bag is evacuated, and the material is withdrawn from the supply hopper 118 to form and measure a charge in the pocket defined by the head portion 72, the walls of the hollow member 68 and the lower portion of the bag clamped to the open end of the hollow member. In practice a fine mesh filter screen 130 may be provided for the end of the suction tube to prevent the material from being drawn from the pocket into the suction lines.

After the charge is formed, the suction is cut off as the port 104 leaves the elongated port 106 and the valve member 74 is opened. The outer hollow member 68 is then elevated relative to the material supply tube 70 and head portion 72 by the cam rail 66 whereupon head portion 72 acts to hold the material down and, in effect, to eject the material from the pocket into the bag, the tube 70 being held in its down position during the ejecting operation by the cam rail 128 in engagement with the roller 126 carried by the collar 121. When the hollow member 68 is elevated to a position flush with the supply tube 70, as shown in Fig. 4, to completely eject the charge between the side walls of the bag, the cam rail 128 is discontinued and the members .6 8,,and 70 are moved upwardly together by engagement of the packing nut 92 with the collar 122 to lift the filling .unit up out of the mouth of the bag. The filled bag may then be conveyed by the grippers to top sealing mechanism for sealing the open tops of the bags whereupon the bags may be discharged from the machine.

Referring now to Figs. and 6, a modified form of charge measuring and bag holding unit therein illustrated may comprise a hollow material supply or charge measuring member 15% detachably secured by screws 151 to a head portion 152 provided with a material inlet opening 154 and a suction opening 156. The headportion 152 may be formed integrally with an arm 158 attached to and movable with the slide member 62 mountedin the bracket 54 and arranged to be reciprocated by the cam rail 66 cooperating with the roller 64 carried by the slide member 62. The material inlet opening 154 may be connected by a flexible hose 16%) to one of the ports 116 in the material supply hopper 118, and thesuction opening 156 may be similarly connected by a flexible hose 161 to one of the ports 1% in the suction head 102, as previously described. The open end of the material supply member 150 is also preferably cut at anangle of 45 degrees and is arranged to be sealed by a valve 162 mounted on one arm 163 of a bell crank pivotally mounted at 164 in an extension of the arm 158. The valve 162 may be faced with a layer of rubber or other resilient material and is arranged to clamp the bottom or lower portion of the bag in airtight relation with the open end of the hollow member 150. The second arm 165 of the bell crank carries a roller 167 arranged to cooperate with a stationary cam rail 169 to eflect opening of the valve. A spring 171 is arranged to close the valve when permitted'to do so by the cam rail 169.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. '5 and 6 provision is made for varying the volume of the charge measured in the hollowmember 150 by placing an insert 180 within the hollow member, such insert being interchangeable with other inserts of various sizes to obtain the volume desired. The insert 180 may be placed in the upper end of the hollowmember and is provided with material inlet and suction openings 182, 184 for alignment and communication with the corresponding openings 154, 156 respectively formed in the head portion 152. The lower endof the insert 180 may be cut off at an angle or" approximately 45 degrees, as shown, and in order to effect discharge of the material into the bag when the filling unit is elevated a perforated ejector plate 186 is provided which is supported at the lower end of an ejector rod 188 extended upwardly through the head portion 152 and adjustably clamped in an arm .190 which may form one arm of a spider rotatable with the charge measuring units, as previously described. The perforated ejector plate 186 is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees as shown for cooperation with the lower end of the insert 18%) when the filling unit is-in its lowered position, and for cooperation with the open end of the hollow member when the filling unit is elevated. In practice, the ejector plate may comprise a relatively thin plate having screened openings in alignment with the material inlet and suction openings 182, 184, or the ejector may comprise a wire screen member, as illustrated. The head portion 152 may be provided with a packing nut 192 for the rod 188 to form a substantially airtight seal between the head portion and the rod during the operation of the machine.

The operation of the modified form of filling unit may be similar to that heretofore described wherein a bag placed or formed about the hollow charge measuring member 150 and supported by grippers is clamped in airtight relation against the lower end of the hollow member by the valve 162. Upon evacuation of the bag the material is withdrawn from the supply hopper to form a charge defined by the side walls of the hollow memt6 ber; .the lower end .of the insert;..and the ,portionoflthe bag clamped against the open end .ofithelhollow member. When the charge is formed the valve 162maylbe opened, and the hollow member 1501s elevated whereupon the charge is ejected into the bag .by the relatively fixed ejector plate 186.

In practice when it -is desired to change the volume of the charge or load, .the'insert may be .replaced, orconveniently, the entire hollow member 150.may"be removed by removing the screws .151.and replaced 'by a different hollow member provided with the size of insert required to obtain thedesired .volume. The ejector plate 186 may be adjusted longitudinally to correspond .to the position of the lower end of .the new insertby adjusting therod'188 in its supporting arm 190.

From. the above description it willbe seen that the present vacuum filling machine is adapted to fill 'flat'flexible bags with a charge of material in amanner such as to avoid collapse of the bag during evacuation and .filling thereof, and that the volume of the .chargemay be easily and quicklychanged in a novel and convenient manner.

'While the preferred embodiment of the invention'has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus describedthe invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a container filling machine "for vacuum filling flexible bags, in combination, vacuum filling means, a .hollow tubular charge measuring member op eratively connected 'to said vacuum filling means, said hollow member beingopen at the bottom and extending into a bag whereby to'internally support a bag positioned thereabout, and sealing means engageable with a bag on said member and adjacent said open bottom for clamping the bottom of thebag in airtight relation to said hollow member to permit evacuation and filling thereof, whereby to enable the material 'to'be deposited within the bag and between the side walls thereof uponmelease of the'bottom of the .bag by said sealing means and removal of .the charge measuring member from the bag.

2. 'In a container filling machine 'for vacuum filling flexible bags, in combination, vacuum .filling means, a hollow tubular charge measuring member operatively connected to said vacuum fillingmeans, said hollow member being open at the bottom and extending into 'a bag whereby tointernally support a bag pos'itionedtthereabout, sealing means .engageable with a bag :on said "member and adjacent said open bottom-for clamping thebottom of the bag in airtight relation to said hollow member to permit evacuation and filling thereof, whereby to enable the material to be deposited within the bag and between the side walls thereof upon release of the bottom of the bag by said sealing means and removal of the charge measuring member from the bag, and meansfor varying the volume of said hollow charge measuring member.

3. In a container filling machine for vacuum filling flexible "bags, in combination, vacuum filling means, a vertically reciprocable hollow charge measuring member operatively connected to said vacuum filling means, a relatively stationary member supported within said hollow member, said hollow member being open at the bottom and arranged to support a bag positioned thereabout, and sealing means cooperating with said open bottom for clamping the bottom of the bag in airtight relation to said hollow member to permit evacuation and filling thereof to form a charge of material, said charge being ejected from the hollow member and deposited within the bag and between the side walls of the bag upon release of the bottom of the bag by said sealing means and elevation of the hollow member relative to said stationary member.

4. A container filling machine as defined in claim 3 wherein provision is made for varying the volume of said hollow charge measuring member.

5. In a container filling machine for vacuum filling flexible bags, in combination, vacuum filling means, charge 7 measuring means operatively connected to said vacuum filling means comprising a vertically reciprocable outer tubular member, a relatively stationary inner tubular member having a head portion slidably fitted within said outer member, said head portion having a suction opening and a material inlet opening in communication with the interior of said outer member, said outer member being open at the bottom and arranged to support a bag positioned thereabout, and sealing means cooperating with said open bottom for clamping the bottom of the bag in airtight relation to said outer member to permit evacuation and filling thereof to form a charge of the material, said charge being ejected from the outer member and deposited within the bag and between the side walls of the bag upon release of the bottom of the bag by the sealing means and upon elevation of the outer member relative to said inner member.

6. A vacuum filling machine as defined in claim wherein the open end of the outer tubular member is formed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the vertical, and wherein the sealing means comprises a hinged member having a resilient pad for clamping the bag against said open end.

7. In a container filling machine for vacuum filling flexible bags, in combination, vacuum filling means, charge measuring means operatively connected to said vacuum filling means comprising a vertically reciprocable outer tubular member, a relatively stationary inner tubular member having a head portion slidably fitted within said outer member, said head portion having a suction opening and a material inlet opening in communication with the interior of said outer member, said outer member being open at the bottom and arranged to support a bag positioned thereabout, and sealing means cooperating with said open bottom for clamping the bottom of the bag in airtight relation to said outer member to permit evacuation and filling thereof to form a charge of the material, said charge being ejected from the outer member and deposited within the bag and between the side walls of the bag upon release of the bottom of the bag by the sealing means and upon elevation of the'outer member relative to said inner member, said head portion being disposed a predetermined distance above the open end of said outer member when the latter is in its lowered position so as to provide a charge having a predetermined volume, and means for adjusting said head portion relative to the outer member to vary the volume of said charge.

8. A vacuum filling machine as defined in claim 7 wherein the inner tubular member is supported for vertical movement, adjustable stop means are provided for limiting the downward movement of the inner member relative to the outer member, and wherein means are provided for effecting elevation of the inner member with the outer member out of the mouth of the bag after the charge has been ejected into the bag, said last-mentioned means being carried by said outer member and engageable with said inner member.

9. In a container fillingmachine for vacuum filling flexible bags, in combination, vacuum filling means, a

hollow tubular charge measuring member operatively connected to said vacuum filling means, said hollow member being open at the bottom and extending into a bag whereby to internally support a bag positioned thereabout, sealing means cooperating with said open bottom for clamping the bottom of the bag in airtight relation to said hollow member to permit evacuation and filling thereof to form a charge, and an interchangeable insert disposed within the hollow member for varying the volume of said charge.

10. In a container filling machine for vacuum filling flexible bags, in combination, vacuum filling means, a vertically reciprocable tubular charge measuring member having a head portion provided with a suction opening and a material inlet opening operatively connected to said filling means, a relatively stationary perforate member supported within said tubular member, said tubular member being open at the bottom and arranged to support a bag positioned thereabout, and sealing means cooperating with said open bottom for clamping the bottom of the bag in airtight relation to said tubular member to permit evacuation and filling thereof to form a charge of material, said charge being ejected from the tubular member and deposited between the side Walls of the bag upon release of the bottom of the bag by the sealing means and elevation of the tubular member relative to said stationary perforate member.

11. In a container filling machine for vacuum filling flexible bags, in combination, vacuum filling means, a ver tically reciprocable tubular charge measuring member having a head portion provided with a suction opening and a material inlet opening operatively connected to said filling means, a relatively stationary perforate member supported within said tubular member, said tubular member being open at the bottom and arranged to support a bag positioned thereabout, sealing means cooperating with said open bottom for clamping the bottom of the bag in airtight relation to said tubular member to permit evacuation and filling thereof to form a charge of material, said charge being ejected from the tubular member and deposited between the side walls of the bag upon release of the bottom of the bag by the sealing means and elevation of the tubular member relative to said stationary perforate member, and an interchangeable insert having a suction opening and a material inlet opening communicating with the corresponding openings in said head portion disposed within the tubular member for varying the volume of said charge.

12. A vacuum filling machine as defined in claim 10 wherein the open end of the tubular member is formed at an angle of approximately degrees from the vertical, and wherein the sealing means comprises a hinged member having a resilient pad engageable with said open end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,367 Wagner Oct. 18, 1938 2,350,554 Hartman et al. June 6, 1944 2,513,143 Carter June 27, 1950 

